A TEENAGE boy narrowly escaped being blinded when a metal spike was impaled in his face during a football match.

Brave Daniel Codd, 15, was fully conscious as fire officers cut him free from a wire mesh fence, part of which pierced him in the forehead, inches away from his eye.

After firefighters cut him free, he was taken to Hope Hospital and transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury where he had surgery to remove the spike.

Daniel was playing football on the artificial pitch at Clarendon recreation ground on Liverpool Street at the weekend when the accident happened.

It is believed he dived for the ball and hit one of the metal spikes, tipping up the other end of the fence and embedding one of the pieces of metal between one eye and the bridge of his nose.

An ambulance was called but could not fit him into the vehicle with the fence, which was still attached to his face, so Salford fire station was contacted.

Station officer Ben levy, who led the operation to free him, said: "By the time we got there Daniel was quite calm and we put him on to a spinal board to keep him very still, then cut him free with bolt cutters.

"He was even able to direct officers where to cut, as he had the best view of the fence just inches away from his eye."

He added that the spike was only prevented from going further into Daniel's head when it hit bone.

Daniel's mother Julie learnt of the accident when two lads ran to her home on nearby Sedgefield Close.

She said: "Daniel was shaking with fear as they used the bolt cutter, but he was trying to put a brave face on things.

"My nerves are still all over the place - you never know what could have happened."

It is believed the fence became damaged after a hole had been torn in it so that access could be gained to the pitch.

Daniel's sister Michelle added: "It's been like that for six months and we have complained but nothing has been done."

A spokesperson for Salford Council said: "We are investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.

"We were informed of the damaged fence last week and we have taken steps to make the hole as secure as possible before it is repaired. The work will now be done as a matter of urgency."